Motor vehicle



Fehr?. w25: 115245710 A L. C! HILL MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Sept. 5, 1918 lllIl/l Patentefeb. 3, 1925.

LEWIS 1C. HILL, OFKDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'IOl PACKARD MOTOR CAR COM- PANY, O'F TJlE'JROIll, MICHIGAN, A QORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

` Moron VEHICLE.

Application filed September adapted to be coupled to the top and to the windshield by suitable fasteners. This equipment is not always satisfactory because wind, and sometimes dust, rain and snow enter the enclosure through the crevices between the top and windshield and between the windshield and side curtains, the crevices at the locations specified being at the front yeo curtains and the windshield.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the of the enclosure where the air pressure, due to traveling, tends to separate Ithe elements from each other, and thereby increase the sizeof the crevices.

The present invention provides a curtain structure adapted to lie against the sash of the windshield in such manner that the joint.

.between the curtain and the sash is tightened automatically by the externalv air pressure due to traveling. It follows, therefore, that as the air pressure increases with increases in speed the parts in question are pressed` against each other with increasingpressure, thereby insuring substantially vwind-proof and weather-proofijoint's between' the storm essential features of the present inventi'on in what I now consider to be the preferred forms, although itvwlll be apparent that further changes in the construction and ar.

rangement of the cooperating parts may be vmade without departing from the fundamental principles involvedl Referring to the drawings- Figure l represents a perspective view, partly in vertical section, includlng the forward portion of a collapsible top, the upper portion of.a windshield and a weather-proof curtain permanently anchored to the to and detachably connected to the sash o vvthe indicated at "ll. l"portion of a collapsible top, the outer fabric 5, 1918. Serial No. 252,683.

windshield, said curtain embodying the seli- Figure 4 represents a. perspective view partly in'horizontal section of an'assemblage `including a side stan'chion that supports the windshield, a fragment of' the windshield, and a side curtain the forward marginal portion of which serves tolmake a tight joint between the sash of the windshield andthe side stanchion. i

Figure 5 represents a horizontal section through the assemblage shown in Figure 4.'

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

The glass panel of th'e windshield is indicated at 1'0, and the top bar of the sash is Figure l includes the front of the. top being-'indicated at 12, and the front bow being indicated at 13. All the gures 'of drawing stand on .the sheet as though the front of the vehicle were at the left, and the rear of the vehicle at the right.

In Figure 1 the front portion of thetop is shown as overhanging therwindshield, and one of the objects of this inventionl is to prevent wind, dust, rain and snow from entering the enclosure bypassing over the top of the windshield. For this purpose a curtain ispermanently anchored to the under side of the top, and is arranged to be connected to the top of the windshield by a series of snap fasteners or other suitable coupling devices. When the top is collapsed and folded back at the rear of the vehiclefthe curtain remains with the front bow of the top, being then uncou led from the windshield.

T e coupling devices are spaced with regard to the stresses to be sustained, and with regard to expediting the operation of couphng the curtain to the windshield, and in order to prevent creviccs being formed between vsaidv devices by external air pressure against the front of the vehicle'the 'curtain is embodied in a structure that forms a continuous joint with the top bar of the `windshield sash without regard to the spaces between the fastcmxrs.

A iange l-l of sheetmetal is fastened to the under side of the front bow 13 'by a series of screws l5, said flange extending transversely of the Vehicle. The rear marginal por tion of the iange extends upwardly and is rolled over to form a channel portionl, wl1ich.serves as a permanent anchorage for a curtain 17. The frce-margii'ial portion 18 0f the curtain is provided with fastener members 19, the latter being arranged in a series, at suitable intervals, extending transversely, and adapted to co-operate with fastener members 20 carried by the top b-.fr 11 of the windshield sash. The curtain is provided with a weather-strip adapted to lie against the top bar 1l to prevent external air pressure from forming crevices between the curtain and the bar l1.

As shown by Figures 1 and 2 the` weatherl`strip comprises a strip 21 of flexible sheet material, doubled upon itself to form a pocket. and a filler-strip 22 arranged in said pocket. The filler-strip is preferably cir-v cular in 'cross-section, and is sho-wn as being made of rubber tubing. It is coextensive with the enclosing strip 21. The two marginal portions of the strip `21 are arranged one-against the other andare attached by j l any suitable means, such as a course of stitches 23, to the curtain member- 17 between the marginal portion 18 'and the an- 'choring 'element 16.

When the top` 12 and the windshield are in position for use marginal portion 18 of the curtain may be carried over the top of the windshield and connected to the topbar 11 by coupling the fastener members 19 and 20 to each other. The weather strip is so disposed as to bear upon the top surface of the windshield sash, a slightpressure vupon the sash being caused by the weight ofthe curtain and weather-strip and bythe tension required to couple the fastener members. The weather strip curls toward the front, and when 4there is any considerable external air pressurev against it, whether caused by wind or'by forward travel of the .vehicle, such pressure tightens `the weather-strp against the4 sash throughout the length o-f the bar 11, the 'weather-strip and bar 11 being coextensive. External elements are thus excluded so that they can not enter between the rear side of the barll and the marginal portion of the curtain 17. The weatherstrip -and marginal portion 18,. conjointly,

form a valley adapted to receive the top bar of the windshield sash. Ei ure 3 shows how the curtain 17 may Y be -fo ded and stitched to form the weatherf strip, instead of attaching a separate piece. The structure shown in this figure differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 inthat chien.

die curtain 17 is folded back upon itself to form a. pocket 21 to enclose the filler-strip 22., and is secured by a course of stitches 23.

In both the forms shown by Figures 2 and 3 the weather-strip is rolled or curled toward the front and held downwardly by the fasteners 19, 20, with the result that any uneurling tendency due to upward pressure of air against the curtain 17 would maintain a vided with weather-strips 26 of rubber or similar soft material arranged to lie against `the stanchions 24, excepting when the sash is tipped-to an angle relatively to the stanchions. The forward sections ofthe side curtains are indicated at 27, 27. These sections are provided with fastener members 28 ar,-

ranged to co-operatewithfastener members 29 that project toward the rear from the rear face of the stanchions. i The members 28 and v 29 are socket and stud members respectively, like those indicated at 19 and 20. The forward marginal portion of -the side curtain turns 'inwardly to be connected to tlie stan- My improved curtain structure isi-adapted to prevent the entrance of wind between the windshield and the side curtans. The weather-strips 26 become broken and nicke-d, thereby leaving gaps between the stanchi ons and the sashes 'through which wind may blow. Furthermore the gaps between the strips 26'of the upper and lowersashes affford opportunities for wind to enter. In

order to utilize the side curtains to exclude wind that may leak through at these points I extend the front marginal port'v on of each curtain a considerable distance beyond the line of attachment with the stanchion, and prepare the marginal portion 'in the manner now about to be described.l

The side curtain is cut so thatvits front -edge 30, -before being folded back, will be five or six inches, more or less, beyond the line in which the socket members 28 are to beinserjt'ed.` The front edge 30 of the fabf ricyis then folded back a short distance behind'l the line of the fasteners 28 thus pro- Vidingtwo layersl of Afabric to receive the fasteners. The' fabric thus doubled is stiffene'd bya course ofgstitche's 31, and is then doubled again to provide a wale32 having four layersfr-These four `layers are then stitched together by a course' of stitches 33, the web 34: receiving additional stiffness in consequence thereof, and the original'loop 'or fold 35 comprising two layers being left free.

The thick and comparatively stiff web 34 is thus made available to hold tliewale 32 against the rear lor inner surface of the sash bar 25, the more flexible -flange 35 being left available and in position to betuclred into the space between the bar 25 and stanchion 24. The normal tendency of the wale -32 is to lie against the sash bar 25 with a slight pressure duc to the holding effect of the fasteners 28, 29, while the normal tendency of the flange is to lie against the inner surface of the stanchion 24, as shown by Figure 5, with a slight pressure due to the unbending tendency.

. This structure performs its weather-ex--- cluding functions from the top of the up'per sash to the bottom of the lower sash. Assuming that the sashes are in closed position as shown, a strong air pressure in the direc tion of ,the arrow a would 'force the free marginal portion of the weatherstrip against the inner face of the stanchion, but there would still be leakage between the strips of the upper sash and those of the lower sash, and also through any nicks or ruptured parts'. of the strips.. All air that leaks past the'strip's 26 is stopped by the flange or flap 35 and wale 32, which, like theelements 18 andv 21, form a valley'in which the sash lies. flanges 21 and 35 its/.similar to the action of the flap of a check valve. I

In lcase a wind blowing against the side of the vehicle as indicated by arrow b should form crevices between the side curtain and the stan'chion it would be excluded by the cluding in combination, a windshield sash,

a top overhanging said sash, and. a closure for the space between the said to upper member of said sash including a flexible curtain anchored to said top and eX- tending over said member and secured to the rear facevthereof, a flexible flap forming a Aweather strip carried by said curtain and resting a gainst'the top surface of said member, said curtain being arranged to form a pocket above said member and opening downwardly. whereby air pressure therein forces said flap against sai top surface.

2. Tlieconibinoation with a Awindshield, of

a storm-curtain having a marginal portion and a flexible flap forming, conjointly, .a valley to receive an edgeof the windshield, said flap consisting of a strip of flexible sheet material having a loop or bend ex- 'marginal portions of said flap being an- The action of the' and the l tending parallel to' said valley, both longitudinalrnarginal portions of said flap being anchored to said curtain `to leave said loop or bend free,the biglit of. said loop bein arranged to be pressed vagainst said winclhield by external air-pressure and means to couple said curtain to the windshield otherwise than by saidflap. u

3. The combination with a windshield, of a storm-curtain having a marginal portion and flexible flap forming, con'ointly, a valley tol receive an edge of the wind-shield, said flap consistingof av strip of flexible sheet material havin a loop or bend extendin parallel to saic valley, both longitudina chored-to `said curtain to leave said loop or bend free, the bight of said loop being arran ed to be pressed against said windsliie d by external `air-p'ressi'ure, a filler-strip of soft material arranged in and extending longitudinally' of said bight, and means to couple said curtain to the windshield otherwise than by said flap.

4. The combination with a windshield, and a side stanchion therefor, of4 a stormcurtain having a flange portion `arranged to lap the stanchion and the windshield, means arranged to fasten said flange to the stanchion, and a weather-strip carried by said flange and arranged -to project between the stanchion and the winds ield. y

.5. The combination with a windshield, and a side stancliion therefor, of aistorincurtain having a relatively stiff flange por tion'arranged tol lap the stanchion and the windshield, means arranged to fasten said flange to the stanchion, and a weather-strip carried by said flange and arranged to projectv between-'the stanchion and the wind- 105 shield.

6., The combination with a windshield, and a side stanchion therefor, of a stormcurtain having a flange portion arranged to lap the stanchion `and thev windshield-11b ineans arranged to fasten said flan e to the stanchion, and acoinpressible weat er-strip carried by said flange and arranged to pro- 'ectbetween the edge of the stanchion and the windshield. 7. The combination with a windshield, and a 'side stanchion therefor, of a stormcurtain having a flange portion arranged to lie against the rear faces of the stanchion and windshield respectively, cooperative fas-120 teners carried by said flange and the rear vface of the stanchion respectively, and a flexible weather-strip carried by saidflan e and arranged toproject between the win shield and the stanchion. y

8. The combination with a windshield and a side stanchion therefor, of a storm curtain, having a flange portion arranged `to lap said stanchion and windshield and means for securing said flange to said stanchion,

said curtain being' folded back upon itself flange, portion :urangedto lap said stancliion to form a Weather strip adapted to Contact and Windshield and said curtain beingvfoldl@ with theedge of said stanchion adjacent ed back on 'itselfto form a weather strip said windshield. adapted to Contact with the `edge. of said 9. T he combination with a Windshield. stanchion adjacent said Windshield.

and a side stanchion the1efor,' of a. storm In testimony whereof I ah'ix my signature. curtainforlned of a plurality orf thicknsses l A 'i of le'xible material, said curtain having a LEWIS C. HILL. 

